Heterocyclic compounds

Abstract

Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I)or a stereoisomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:A isQ is a substituted 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group;W is CH2, O, or NH; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, m, n, t, and x are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds as selective agonists for G protein-coupled receptor S1P1, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as autoimmune diseases and vascular disease.

Description

[0001]The present invention generally relates to heterocyclic compounds useful as S1P1 agonists. Provided herein are heterocyclic compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of their use. The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound according to the invention that are useful for the treatment of conditions related to S1P1 agonism, such as autoimmune diseases and vascular disease.[0002]Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been demonstrated to induce many cellular effects, including those that result in platelet aggregation, cell proliferation, cell morphology, tumor cell invasion, endothelial cell and leukocyte chemotaxis, endothelial cell in vitro angiogenesis, and lymphocyte trafficking. S1P receptors are therefore good targets for a wide variety of therapeutic applications such as tumor growth inhibition, vascular disease, and autoimmune diseases. S1P signals cells in part via a set of G protein-coupled receptors na...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The S1P1 receptor is expressed in a number of tissues. It is the predominant family member expressed on lymphocytes and plays an important role in lymphocyte trafficking. Downregulation of the S1P1 receptor disrupts lymphocyte migration and homing to various tissues. This results in sequestration of the lymphocytes in lymph organs thereby decreasing the number of circulating lymphocytes that are capable of migration to the affected tissues. Thus, development of an S1P1 receptor agent that suppresses lymphocyte migration to the target sites associated with autoimmune and aberrant inflammatory processes could be efficacious in a number of autoimmune and inflammatory disease states.

[0006]An example of an S1P1 agonist is FTY720. This immunosuppressive compound FTY720 (JPI 1080026-A) has been shown to reduce circulating lymphocytes in animals and humans, and to have disease modulating activity in animal models of organ rejection and immune disorders. The use of FTY720 in humans has been effective in reducing the rate of organ rejection in human renal transplantation and increasing the remission rates in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (see Brinkman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 277:21453 (2002); Mandala et al., Science, 296:346 (2002); Fujino et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 305:45658 (2003); Brinkman et al., Am. J. Transplant., 4:1019 (2004); Webb et al., J. Neuroimmunol., 153:108 (2004); Morris et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 35:3570 (2005); Chiba, Pharmacology &Therapeutics, 108:308 (2005); Kahan et al., Transplantation, 76:1079 (2003); and Kappos et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 335:1124 (2006)). Subsequent to its discovery, it has been established that FTY720 is a prodrug, which is phosphorylated in vivo by sphingosine kinases to a more biologically active agent that has agonist activity at the S1P1, S1P3, S1P4, and S1P5 receptors. It is this activity on the S1P family of receptors that is largely responsible for the pharmacological effects of FTY720 in animals and humans.

[0017]The compounds of Formula (I) and compositions comprising the compounds are S1P1 agonists, which are selective for S1P1 activity over S1P3 activity. The compounds of Formula (I) and compositions comprising said compounds may be used in treating, preventing or curing various S1P1 receptor-related conditions while reducing or minimizing the side effects due to S1P3 activity. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as autoimmune and vascular diseases.

Problems solved by technology

Inhibition of lymphocyte recirculation by non-selective S1P receptor modulation produces clinical immunosuppression preventing transplant rejection, but such modulation also results in transient bradycardia.

Instead, S1P3 activity plays a significant role in the observed acute toxicity of nonselective S1P receptor agonists, resulting in the undesirable cardiovascular effects, such as bradycardia and hypertension.

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